SAO PAULO, July 13 (Reuters) – Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Monday barred presidential hopeful Senator Flavio Bolsonaro from visiting his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, for 90 days, citing a breach of the elder politician’s house arrest terms.
The ban will extend just past the first-round vote, scheduled for October 4, potentially dealing a setback to the younger Bolsonaro’s campaign against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. A potential runoff could take place on October 25.
Moraes ruled that a social media post over the weekend, in which the senator shared a letter written by the ex-president, violated the conditions of Jair Bolsonaro’s house arrest.
Under the terms of the house arrest, the elder Bolsonaro cannot use social media, a cell phone or other telephone whether directly or through third parties.
The former president’s letter came amid a rift between Senator Bolsonaro and his stepmother, former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro. In it, the ex-president said it was time “to set aside any differences, and have everyone commit to supporting” his son’s presidential run.
The senator, whom election polls show as the main challenger to Lula, said during a live stream on social media that Moraes’ decision was “disproportionate” and an “attempt to interfere in the elections.” He added he saw no explanation for a specific 90-day ban.
Representatives for former President Jair Bolsonaro did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The ex-president was sentenced last year to more than 27 years in prison for plotting a coup against Lula after losing the 2022 election. He was later placed under house arrest on health grounds.
Moraes also gave the older Bolsonaro’s legal team 48 hours to clarify whether he was aware that his letter would be posted on social media by his son.
(Reporting by Luciana Magalhaes, Andre Romani and Victoria Pacheco in Sao Paulo; Editing by Brendan O’Boyle, Mark Porter and Jamie Freed)
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